The Android operating system has always been criticized by all the downstream patches controlled by mobile operators and the kernel tree controlled by various vendors/devices. In order to further reduce fragmentation, more and more codes have begun to be upstreamed in recent years, and Google is working hard to make the kernel of all new products based on Android Generic Kernel Image (GKI).
Looking ahead, Google is now talking about an upstream first approach to push new kernel features. At the Linux Plumbers Conference (LPC2021) held today, Google’s Todd Kjos gave a speech about the GKI project. In Android 12 and GKI mirroring based on Linux 5.10, Google has further reduced fragmentation and even achieved almost eliminated. In the GKI of Android 12, most of the vendor/OEM kernel functions are now either upstreamed into the Linux kernel, isolated into vendor modules/hooks or merged into the Android Common Kernel.
Google has made good progress in GKI, while also ensuring that vendors adapt to new methods to reduce kernel confusion. But perhaps the most exciting thing is their vision for further reduction of technical debt from 2023 to 2024. They will pursue the upstream development model for new features to ensure that new code enters the Linux kernel Mainline first, rather than directly looking for a host in the Android source tree.
Google also promised to work hard to upstream all out-of-tree patches in Android Common Kernels.
